Rugby Direct

Elliot Smith & Liam Napier kick off 2023 by looking ahead at the busy year of rugby.

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Elliott Smith (Newstalk ZB's lead rugby commentator) and Liam Napier (chief Sports writer at the New Zealand Herald) were poised to head off into summer but before the boys don the speedos, fire up the BBQ and grab a pool noodle they've been summoned for one last podcast to review what was a mammoth year for rugby in New Zealand.

In this bumper podcast, they get stuck into the highs and lows of Super Rugby, the All Blacks, the Black Ferns while remembering some of their favourite media conference moments.

Elliott and Liam dish up some awards, as well as ponder a few existential questions about rugby and where it is going ahead of 2023.

Amidst all of that, the guys take a look at the coaching sagas up north and the domino effect they might have on New Zealand.

Rugby Direct returns in 2023.

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On this week's episode of Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier dissect the All Black's drawn test against England. Was it their best performance of the year or did it sum up season 2022 for the men in black?

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On this week's episode of Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier have moved from Edinburgh to London ahead of the final All Blacks test of the year, but before they discuss the All Blacks' win over Scotland, they convene to discuss the Black Ferns' almighty World Cup win and what it might mean for women's rugby in New Zealand and assess the interesting nominee's list for World Rugby's Awards.

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On this week's episode of Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier review the All Blacks' victory over Wales, the Black Ferns' road to World Cup glory continues and big bad Brodie Retallick sits down for a chat.

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On this week's podcast, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier review the All Blacks' scratchy win over Japan in Tokyo and the Black Ferns thumping of Wales in their Rugby World Cup quarter-final and look ahead to both NZ sides' respective next games.

Popular Wales rugby broadcaster Lauren Jenkins joins the pod to give her assessment on what to expect from the hosts this week.

And, Elliott and Liam debate where to from here for Dane Coles after another injury.

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On this week's Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith (Newstalk ZB's All Blacks commentator) and Liam Napier (NZ Herald chief sports writer) review the Black Fern's latest win at the Women's Rugby World Cup ahead of their quarter-final match against Wales.

Elliott is in Tokyo with the All Blacks ahead of their opening match of the end-of-year tour against Japan.

All that and more on the latest edition of Rugby Direct thanks to Employment Hero.

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On this week's Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith (Newstalk ZB's All Blacks commentator) and Liam Napier (NZ Herald chief sports writer) return from activating the sabbatical clauses in their respective contracts and assess the Black Ferns' Rugby World Cup campaign through the first two games and also cast an eye to England and France's progress.

Canterbury and Wellington have booked spots in the Bunnings NPC final, with the men from the capital looking in fine form as they try and go down to beat the red and black machine.

We also look at Ardie Savea's 2024 stint playing in Japan, as well as cast a look over the All Blacks XV.

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On this week's Rugby Direct, Kate Wells (Newstalk ZB sport journalist) is joined by former Black Ferns captain and New Zealand Rugby board member Dr Farah Palmer to analyse the opening of the women's Rugby World Cup which kicked off in Auckland last weekend. They discuss the Black Ferns' spine chilling haka, the sold out Eden Park crowd and who can win the tournament.

We delve into how this tournament compares to Dr Palmer's experience, playing three Rugby World Cup's herself.

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On this week's Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith (Newstalk ZB's All Blacks commentator) and Liam Napier (NZ Herald chief sports writer) look ahead to the Rugby World Cup 2021 (being played in 2022) kicking off this weekend at Eden Park and ask whether the Black Ferns are a realistic chance of winning it at this point in their rebuild against the likes of England and France.

We chat Jordie Barrett's re-signing with NZR and the Hurricanes through to 2025 and the fortunes of the NPC sides as we approach the business end of the side.

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